Legendary fast-bowler Lasith Malinga, on Friday, announced that he would retire from international cricket after next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. The right-arm pacer also said that he would quit playing One-Day Internationals after the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup in England and Wales. He would then bid goodbye to all forms of the game after the World T20 next year, scheduled to be played in Australia over October-November 2020.
Despite being one of the greatest pacers to have played for Sri Lanka, Malinga’s career has not panned out in expected manner in the last couple of year due to a spate of injuries and inconsistent form. Last year, he was recalled into the ODI squad during the Asia Cup after more than one year. The veteran pacer had made an instant impact with an impressive spell against Bangladesh before picking up a five-wicket haul against England in the ODI series at home.
In the last few months, he has been Sri Lanka’s best bowler in addition to being the captain of the side. However, the fortunes of the team are showing little signs of improvement. Sri Lanka recently lost the ODI series in South Africa 5-0 and have concede the three-match T20I series too after losing the first two games. Well, Malinga is now gearing up for his swansong in the World Cup.
“After the World Cup, my cricketing career is ending,” Lasith Malinga said after Sri Lanka’s loss in the second ODI.
“I want to play in the T20 World Cup and then end my career,” Malinga added.
Earlier on Saturday, Malinga had confirmed he would miss at least the first six games for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming Indian Premier League. Malinga will instead participate in Sri Lanka’s Super Provincial One-Day domestic tournament, slated from April 4 to April 11, in a bid to make it to the World Cup team.
“I had asked the board for the No-Objection Certificate for me to play in the IPL, and they had said that was fine, but that all players who want to go to the World Cup would need to stay back for the provincial tournament,” Malinga told ESPNcricinfo.
“So I told them I’d play in the provincial tournament, and I asked the board to inform Mumbai Indians and IPL since it was their decision. I’m ok with losing those earnings from IPL. I’m doing it for the country,” he added.